Newport County midfielder Aaron Wildig has been ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering a serious knee injury in the weekend draw with Grimsby Town.
The co-captain landed awkwardly after a challenge with Kieran Green, and required lengthy treatment before being taken off at Rodney Parade.
Unfortunately, scans have revealed damage to his ACL, and Wildig is facing a long spell on the sidelines which will curtail his 2024-25 campaign.
The injury is a cruel blow for the 32-year-old, who has become a vital player for the Exiles both on and off the pitch following his arrival in NP19 in June 2022.
“He has had a bad injury, unfortunately, there’s damage to his ACL,” said head coach, Nelson Jardim.
“It’s everything we hoped it wouldn’t be, and it’s a huge blow for us. It’s disappointing because Aaron is not just a top-quality player, but a leader both on and off the pitch for us.
“He’s been a pivotal figure for me, a true leader and a key part of our squad. His presence on the field, his experience, and his character are things we’ll miss immensely.
“It’s been frustrating few months with injuries which has been really tough to deal with. We’ve had limited spells when everyone has been fit, so there’s been a lot of change in the line-up week to week.
“We’ve got a strong squad, and while it’s tough losing Aaron, we have players capable of stepping up.
"We’ve got to keep going as a team because we’ve got a tough couple of weeks ahead of us with the busy schedule.”
Everyone at Newport County wishes Aaron all the very best in his recovery.